The coverage stretched from the west coast of the US itself to Russia, where despite a frosty reception from President Medvedev, newspapers were quick to recognise the event's significance.

Many newspapers chose to sum up the story in a single word – Obama – the Kenyan name soon to be added to the roll of US presidents.

Mr Obama's slogan "Yes we can" was also incorporated into several front pages across the US, with The Tulsa World, The Massilon Independent and The Rio Grande Monitor all reflecting: "Yes, he did".

Meanwhile, papers including The Roanoke Times, The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and The Cleveland Plain Dealer were quick to grab the most memorable phrase from Mr Obama's acceptance speech: "Change has come".

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One of the most striking front pages was that of a newspaper in Mr Obama's political home town, the Chicago Sun-Times. Dominated by a full-page, black and white photograph of the president-elect's face, the page contained just two small words at its foot: "Mr President."

An internet user created the montage from front pages compiled by newseum.org, the website of the newspaper museum of the same name, which is situated near the White House in Washington, DC.